Method for manufacturing a liquid ejection head

Abstract

There is provided a first die, in which a plurality of projections are arrayed in a first direction with a fixed pitch to form at least one array of the projections. Each of the projections is elongated in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The first die faces a first face of the plate member. A second die is opposed to the first die while supporting a second face of the plate member. At least one first region is formed on the plate member so as to have a less rigidity than another region of the plate member. The first die and the second die are approached so that the projections are dug into a second region in the first face of the plate member, thereby forming partitioned recesses to be pressure generating chambers of a liquid ejection head. The at least one first region is adjacent to at least one of ends in the first direction of the second region, such that the first region and the second region are arranged in the second direction.

1. A method of manufacturing a liquid ejection head which ejects liquid droplets from nozzle orifices by generating pressure fluctuation in liquid contained in a plurality of pressure generating chambers communicated with the nozzle orifices, the method comprising steps of:
 providing a metallic plate member; 
 providing a first die, in which a plurality of projections are arrayed in a first direction with a fixed pitch to form at least one array of the projections, each of the projections being elongated in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the first die facing a first face of the plate member; 
 providing a second die, opposed to the first die while supporting a second face of the plate member; 
 forming at least one first region on the plate member so as to have a less rigidity than another region of the plate member; 
 approaching the first die and the second die, so that the projections are dug into a second region in the first face of the plate member, the projections being pressed in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction, so as to generate a plastic flow of a material in the plate member into gaps defined between the projections, thereby forming partitioned recesses to be the pressure generating chambers, 
 wherein the at least one first region is adjacent to at least one of ends in the first direction of the second region, such that the first region and the second region are arranged in the second direction; 
 wherein the projections in the first die is arranged so as to form two arrays of the projections; and 
 wherein the first region is placed between two arrays of the projections when the projections are dug into the plate member. 
 
     
     
       2. The manufacturing method as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a step of forming a through hole in each of the partitioned recesses, the through hole to be a passage communicating one of the pressure generating chambers and one of the nozzle orifices,
 wherein the through hole is formed in the vicinity of one end in the second direction of each of the partitioned recesses, which opposes to the first region. 
 
     
     
       3. The manufacturing method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein a through hole is formed in the first region. 
     
     
       4. The manufacturing method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein a recess is formed in the first region. 
     
     
       5. The manufacturing method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein a distance between the first region and the second region is made shorter as coming closer to an end in the first direction of the second region. 
     
     
       6. The manufacturing method as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a step of forming a recess extending in the first direction, such that the first region is situated within the recess. 
     
     
       7. A method of manufacturing a liquid ejection head which ejects liquid droplets from nozzle orifices by generating pressure fluctuation in liquid contained in a plurality of pressure generating chambers communicated with the nozzle orifices, the method comprising steps of:
 providing a metallic plate member; 
 providing a first die, in which a plurality of projections are arrayed in a first direction with a fixed pitch to form at least one array of the projections, each of the projections being elongated in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the first die facing a first face of the plate member; 
 providing a second die, opposed to the first die while supporting a second face of the plate member; 
 forming at least one first region on the plate member so as to have a less rigidity than another region of the plate member; 
 approaching the first die and the second die, so that the projections are dug into a second region in the first face of the plate member, the projections being pressed in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction, so as to generate a plastic flow of a material in the plate member into gaps defined between the projections, thereby forming partitioned recesses to be the pressure generating chambers, 
 wherein the at least one first region is adjacent to at least one of ends in the first direction of the second region, such that the first region and the second region are arranged in the second direction; and 
 wherein the first region has a trapezoidal shape such that a longer side is made closer to the end in the first direction of the second region. 
 
     
     
       8. The manufacturing method as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein:
 the projections in the first die is arranged so as to form two arrays of the projections; and 
 the trapezoidal shape is symmetrical with respect to a line extending in the first direction.